In the lobby of the Sentinel Order, two figures watched Maximilian von Ebenholtz walk away down the corridor.
—Tiana, your face looks like shit.
At her fellow cadet Leon's comment, Tiana calmly relaxed her expression.
—What are you talking about?
Most of the Sentinel recruits came from Empire Point—the military academy.But Maximilian was below Tiana in everything:
skill, grades, conduct…
Far below.
—I never expected anything from him in the first place.
And yet, during the induction ceremony, Maximilian stood at the very center—the best position—while Tiana could only glare at him from the side.
—Knights are basically freelancers, right?
Tiana brushed back her red hair with a mocking smile.
What mattered was individual ability.It was a profession where results were visible.
Even someone from a humble background could earn large amounts of money.In that sense, it was a purely merit-based system.
—Aren't they supposed to be the Empire's sword?
Tiana let out a quiet scoff.
Loyalty… was nothing more than an outdated ideal.
In times like these, no knight valued that kind of abstraction above everything else.The limits of status were too clear.
If you were born imperial but not a noble, you would never rise.And even if you were…
you could never compete with a bloodline like the Ebenholtz.
—Being the Empire's sword is a given. The real goal is to live well while you can.
Of course, saying that out loud would cause problems.
Tiana's childhood dream had been to become a knight commander.Now, it had changed into becoming wealthy.
And after ten years as a knight… that was more than achievable.
***
I arrived at the crime scene with Julian Askar.
A mansion in one of the Empire's wealthiest districts.
The police officers guarding the area approached us.
—Welcome.
A middle-aged inspector saluted respectfully.
Julian spoke:
—Please guide us.
—Yes. This way.
We followed him inside.
—It's a bit… messy.
The crime scene was a hidden basement chamber.
The walls were lined with unidentified torture devices.
The floor was stained with dried blood.
It was obvious what kind of acts had taken place there.
The dead man… had disgusting tastes.
—The body was found here.
I knew the outline of this case.
The victim was one of the Empire's many corrupt nobles… someone who deserved to die.
But regardless of his crimes…
killing a noble was one of the gravest offenses under imperial law.
And eliminating noble killers…
was one of a knight's primary duties.
—Take a look.
Before my regression…
I had failed to solve this case.
Because I was useless.
…And honestly, even now, I wasn't sure.
***
—Throb.
The fragment beneath my collarbone reacted faintly.
My brow furrowed.
Ezenheim.
***
—The scene has been well preserved.
Julian muttered as he surveyed the area.
—But there are no clear clues.
I searched for evidence as well.
The Ezenheim operate in tightly knit cells.
They are extremely careful when hiding their identities.
But no matter how perfect their disguise…
they cannot erase their unique "trace."
***
—Maximilian, did you find something?
Julian asked suddenly.
—These footprints.
I pointed at faint marks on the floor.
—Judging by the size… they belong to a child.
That was what the shape suggested.
But appearances couldn't be trusted.
They weren't human.
We didn't even know if they experienced time the same way we did.
—I see.
Julian nodded.
—Quite an interesting case for your first assignment. Do your best, Maximilian.
He suddenly removed his gloves and raised an eyebrow.
—…Am I handling this alone?
I couldn't remember if it had been like this before.
It had been too long…
and back then, I lacked both the ability and the will to handle such cases.
—Of course. It's a good opportunity to test a subordinate.
And with that, he left.
He climbed the stairs and disappeared.
***
—…Seriously?
Left alone, I examined the basement again.
Then I saw it.
In one corner… an old sketchbook.
Julian had looked at it earlier.
I picked it up.
Every page was filled with distorted drawings.
One of them caught my attention.
A park.
And within that drawing…
there was a trace.
***
—…Found it.
The fragment inside me reacted strongly.
Residual energy of the Ezenheim.
A signal.
A distress call between their kind.
***
—Inspector.
—Yes?
—Where is the nearest park?
The culprit was there.
And if I remembered correctly…
Julian Askar had probably already moved ahead.
***
Julian arrived at an empty park.
He walked into the forest behind an old fountain.
There, he found a small wooden shelter.
A hideout built by children.
He carefully looked inside.
A small figure trembled.
A child.
—…It's you.
His voice was low and gentle.
The child raised their head.
Around twelve… maybe thirteen.
Pale face. Eyes filled with fear.
—It's okay. I won't ask anything.
Duty as a knight… and compassion… clashed within him.
Julian knew the corruption of the Empire all too well.
There were far too many rotten nobles.
—Come out.
He slowly extended his hand.
—It's alright.
The child hesitated…
then took his hand.
It felt fragile.
Too fragile.
Julian clenched his teeth.
The child stepped out.
—Now then…
***
—Rustle.
A sound.
Julian instantly pulled the child behind him.
From the shadows…
a man appeared.
Moonlight illuminated his face.
Julian spoke:
—Maximilian.
***
Maximilian von Ebenholtz.
"Max."
He looked at Julian… then at the child.
He nodded.
—Yes, Sir Julian. You may call me Max.
Julian didn't show it, but his mind raced.
Was he being followed?
Impossible.
He had been careful.
There was only one conclusion:
He had underestimated him.
***
Maximilian said nothing.
His gaze fell on the child.
Cold.
Emotionless.
***
But only for a moment.
***
A gentle smile spread across his lips.
—The victim was scum. An old man named Essent. Quite infamous around here.
—…You already investigated?
—The police told me.
He stepped closer to the child.
—A degenerate who committed unspeakable acts.
He crouched to meet the child's eyes.
—Was it you who killed him?
The child's body was covered in dried blood.
A mana analysis would easily confirm the culprit.
—Tell me honestly. We can help you.
The child looked up at him.
Innocent eyes.
Fragile.
—…Yes. He…
Their voice trembled and stopped.
—You don't have to say more.
Maximilian leaned in and whispered something into the child's ear.
No reaction.
Only trembling lips.
***
Then—
his hand moved.
***
Shhk!
The air split.
The blade sliced across the child's neck.
***
Julian froze.
His hand reached for his sword—
but it was too late.
The child collapsed without a scream.
Blood poured out.
Their small body… went still.
***
—Sir Julian.
Maximilian returned to his usual expression.
Cold.
—Under imperial law, killing a noble warrants immediate execution. No exceptions.
Julian's jaw tightened.
He wiped the blood from his face.
—…That's right.
His voice trembled slightly.
—We could have interrogated him.
Maximilian cleaned his blade.
—The evidence remains in the body.
Then added:
—Besides… who knows what he would become if he grew up?
***
Julian smiled faintly.
On the surface.
But inside…
he thought:
This guy is completely insane.